Stephen Curry Speaks About Losing Mark Jackson, Getting Steve Kerr, and the New Direction of the Warriors

Stephen Curry is an emotional ‘tweener right now. It comes through in his tone.

He’s excited about new coach Steve Kerr but also still frustrated by the firing of Mark Jackson. He’s encouraged by the prospects of a fresh start under a new regime but still bummed out by the manner the last one just ended.

He’s empowered by the task of leading this team through it all, yet feeling a bit marginalized as a player in the NBA machine.

“It’s difficult, but it’s good to know what the next direction is,” said Curry, who hasn’t spoken publicly since Jackson was fired. “It’s still kind of stressful knowing how it all went down.”

First things first: Curry does like Kerr. If he had to have another coach, which management concluded he did, he likes the prospects of it being Kerr.

And he really liked how Kerr called him to talk before the news broke. Curry had just returned from a family vacation in Mexico and their conversation went a long way for the star point guard.

Curry said he and Kerr have further plans to talk about the new system and get to know each other better. But Curry also said he already has a good relationship with Kerr and is convinced the incoming philosophies and connections will help them win.

And he doesn’t see Kerr having a problem meshing with the guys in the locker room.

“I just want to see him build that relationship with the players,” Curry said. “To be able to get the most out of us. To challenge us. Pushing us to a higher level. And I don’t think he’ll have a problem with that. We’re in good hands. I’m not worried about that. He just has to develop his coaching style. I agree with the decision (to hire Kerr).”

But moving forward isn’t quite so easy. Curry said the emotions of watching his coach — the guy he most credits for improving his Warriors tenure — get canned, and being helpless to stop it, have yet to subside.

You have to remember, Curry came to the Warriors in the midst of dysfunction. His early years were shaped by Don Nelson and Robert Rowell. Stephen Jackson and Monta Ellis. Three coaches and 145 losses his first three seasons.

For him, Jackson embodied winning, stability, a change in the culture he involuntarily inherited. Curry said he noticed the strides Jackson made offensively and felt like his coach would continue growing with the team.

And just like that, it was all gone. Back to starting over. The baby out with the bath water. Two days after the team put together a playoff performance he was proud of even in defeat.

Curry said his feelings about Jackson won’t go away, but it’s going to take time to let his new reality set in. And the subsequent fall out after Jackson’s firing hasn’t done much to help him move on.

The reasons for Jackson’s firing he understands. In some ways they even make sense. But the accusations seem so surreal in the vacuum of his existence as a player.

“I’ve heard it wasn’t as good as it seems,” Curry said. “But that’s so far from my perception of coach and the reality I dealt with every day. From my dealings with him, I just don’t see him that way.

“I heard a lot of different explanations and reasons. I heard the positions on why management and the front office wanted to make a change. I can’t say I agree with all of them, but I know what they were thinking and I understand where they are coming from.”

Curry said he would prefer if ties were severed and that was it. But he admitted it stings to hear the way people talk about Jackson. It feels a bit excessive.

“It’s definitely frustrating for that to be the narrative about coach,” Curry said. “We accomplished a lot. We’ve done things this franchise hasn’t done in a long time. Management, coach and us players had parts in that.”

This was also a rude awakening for Curry, who is relatively new at this stardom thing. Perhaps he thought he has more currency than he does. Or maybe he was never forced to think about these things before.

Either way, it’s got to be a bit jarring for things to play out the way they did. Curry was vocal and adamant in his support of Jackson. In the end, he learned the Warriors had already decided.

Is this a matter of nice guys finishing last? Is this reward for finishing top 10 in minutes, usage rate and efficiency rating, all on a discounted salary?

Curry said demanding a trade is not his style. He said he has no interest in being a problem for management. What’s more, he doesn’t see the need.

He said he still thinks the Warriors are a good team and management is focused on winning. He still holds dear his responsibility to his teammates.

But he did get a clear picture of what kind of power he really has. Even though he said he appreciated general manager Bob Myers keeping him in the loop on the search, Curry hit that players’ ceiling pretty hard.

“We’ve just got a bunch of players that are trying to win,” Curry said. “A lot of things are going on, decisions have to be made and I can’t control that.”

Eventually, Curry won’t be torn. He said he and his teammates are too tight to be shaken and he believes Kerr can maximize their strengths. They may not be the same strengths Jackson maximized, but the Warriors should be good nonetheless.

Curry said it is his mission to make sure this new arrangement works. He already likes what he hears from Kerr and the plans of management.

Doesn’t mean he liked what just happened with this franchise. But …

“At the end of the day, we’re in a good spot,” Curry said. “We’ve got a great locker room and we know the direction we are going. We’re still a good team.”